The Monitor. [volume] (Woodstown, N.J.) 1884-1892, 1887-05-20
THE STORY OF \ moMEsrcK HoasE

name, to everybody and everything. All
Of us dumb creatures loved them and were
willing to serve them faithfully, and it was
4 sad day for me when they decided to
part with me. The children cried, and the
mother patted me with tears in her soft
brown eyes, and the father said it was like
parting with a member of the family.
'Gay has never known anything but
gentleness; / hope you will be kind to
HIM, y said the mother when my new mas
ter came to take me away.
sob, certainly; my animals always get
plenty to eat" said the man.
"Dumb creatures need something be-
sides food to make them entirely happy.
Gay has been made to feel that we love
him and appreciate his good qualities, "
said the mother. patting my neck again,
while the man looked at her as though she
was talking in a language that he coald not
understand, and from that moment my
homesickness began, so quickly does our
instinct teach us who can comprehend our
needs.
When we arrived at my new home it was
nearly dark, and a lad about the size of my
old masters dear son came out to examine
me. He slapped me all over, as if to learn
of what material | was composed, then he
jerked open my mouth to examine my teeth
and see if | was no older than my master
had represented me, which, for Mr.. Kind
ly's sake, [ felt like resenting; but | held
my peace, for | remembered instantly that
my mother had told me once that ''the
better behaved myself the more credit |
would reflect upon those who had reared
me-"
The father laughed at the boys actions,
and said to a man standing near: That
boy is never going to allow himself to be
cheated; he'll make a sharp trader. That's
right. my son; trust nobody's word in such
matters: each one acts for himself, aud
will take advantage of his n%eighbors when
ever he can"
Thought that advice was very different
from my old masters, who said one day to
his little lad: Don't mistrust any one of
evil, Jamie; believe every one honest until
he proves himselfa thief
When l was led to the stable it looked so
dark within, and having already lost conf
dence in my new master, | peered in very
shyly and pulled back, at which the boy
kicked me and spoke roughly, and there
was a new terror had never before heard
such a lone of voice nor received a kick,
SO I reared up, not knowing what to do to
preserve myself from danger.
''None of your airs, Mr.. Gay; tomorrow
I'll take out a few of these skittish capers,
/ guess" the lad said angrily and boast
fully.
The next morning | awake from ahappy
dream of my old home to a. remembrance
of my new masters threat, which l was
sure meant something evil. | could eat but
little breakfast, and trembled when | saw
him coming towards me with a strong
looking, stiff bit, which he forced into my
mouth in a way that hut me, and as did
not understand what he meant | backed
and wlirled around. and he kicked me. If
he had spoken kindly I could have under
stood and would have obeyed. When he
vaulted into the'saddle he dug his heels
into my TANKS, and | thought his boots
must be full Of pins. learned afterwards
the cruel things are called spurs. He
ierked my tender mouth 50 hard that it
bled. was frightened and ran awhile,
and by the time we had reached town l
was in a white foam. The boy hitched me
to a rack in front of a store, and soon the
sleet began to fall, and | was a glaze of
ice. The passers-by pitied me, and said it
was cruel to treat a dumb creature SO.
Dinner-time came, and supposed my
present sufferings would end, for my old
master was as careful that his animals
should be fed at regular hours as his fam
ily. But, alas; hour after hour passed, and
the night was setting in before the boy ap-
peared.
Young man, ii is a blessed thing that
some big-hearted people are forming So
cieties all around us for the prevention OF
cruelty to animals, said an old gentleman,
stopping a moment to give me a kindly
pat.
sPshaw! what's his hide made for but
to keep him warm?" the boy said angrily,
as he thrust his spurs into my sides and
ierked my mouth. l was stiff with cold
and had lost spirit and could not travel
home with my usual speed, and he grum-
bled about being cheated and sneered at
my speed and whipped and spurred me,
until, goaded to frenzy, | made a mad
plunge. and carried him 20 his door at a
John Gilpin gait.
The next morning I felt very miserable
in body and spirit, and with such a home
sick longing that if had been a human
being | would have sat down and cried,
but we poor dumb creatures can make no
moan. / thought if the boy would com
in and speak a kind word l would pardon
yesterdays cruelty, for We are very for
giving and forgetful. But instead of this,
he tainted me with my dropping head and
lack-lustre eye, and called out to his father
that he was going to change my name from
Gay to "Pokey.H
ssYou'n have to take a ride this morning
and liven him up" said the father.
Tho sIivenipr mn process consisted Of